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New York: makeshift hospitals set up as Cuomo warns 'tsunami is coming' New York: makeshift hospitals set up as Cuomo warns 'tsunami is coming'
(32 minutes later)
Huge medical ship docks in New York harbour and medical tents pitched in Central Park as officials scramble to secure suppliesHuge medical ship docks in New York harbour and medical tents pitched in Central Park as officials scramble to secure supplies
In New York City on Monday, ghostly white tents were pitched in Central Park, a huge medical ship docked in the harbour and the state’s first temporary coronavirus hospital opened, all heralding a new front in the fight against Covid-19.In New York City on Monday, ghostly white tents were pitched in Central Park, a huge medical ship docked in the harbour and the state’s first temporary coronavirus hospital opened, all heralding a new front in the fight against Covid-19.
As reports suggested that more than a thousand New Yorkers have died from the respiratory disease, an emotional Andrew Cuomo hit back at Donald Trump’s repeated assertion that the state has exaggerated its need for life-saving medical equipment.As reports suggested that more than a thousand New Yorkers have died from the respiratory disease, an emotional Andrew Cuomo hit back at Donald Trump’s repeated assertion that the state has exaggerated its need for life-saving medical equipment.
Cuomo said on MSNBC on Monday morning: “The science people, the government professionals have to stand up and look the president in the eye and say this is not a political exercise. This is not press relations. It’s not optics. The tsunami is coming.”Cuomo said on MSNBC on Monday morning: “The science people, the government professionals have to stand up and look the president in the eye and say this is not a political exercise. This is not press relations. It’s not optics. The tsunami is coming.”
As New York City has emerged as ground zero for the disease in the US, Cuomo and mayor Bill de Blasio have instituted increasingly dramatic policies. Non-essential employees are working from home, schools are closed and a normally bustling city has gone eerily quiet. As New York City has emerged as ground zero for the disease in the US, Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have instituted increasingly dramatic policies. Non-essential employees are working from home, schools are closed and a normally bustling city has gone eerily quiet.
This weekend, after Trump floated an enforced quarantine for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel advisory urging residents to avoid non-essential travel for two weeks. Cuomo said New York would stay effectively shuttered at least until 15 April.This weekend, after Trump floated an enforced quarantine for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel advisory urging residents to avoid non-essential travel for two weeks. Cuomo said New York would stay effectively shuttered at least until 15 April.
State and local officials are scrambling to drum up staff and supplies to get them through the apex of the outbreak, which is predicted for the near future. A temporary hospital at midtown Manhattan’s Jacob K Javits Convention Center opened on Monday, the first in a series of facilities being constructed. The USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship, will help hospitals deal with non-coronavirus patients. State and local officials are scrambling to drum up staff and supplies to get them through the apex of the outbreak, which is predicted for the near future. A temporary hospital at midtown Manhattan’s Jacob K Javits Convention Center opened on Monday, the first in a series of facilities being constructed. The USNS Comfort, a navy hospital ship, will help hospitals deal with non-coronavirus patients.
“My message to the president is thank you, and we need more help,” de Blasio said after welcoming the ship. “My message to the president is thank you, and we need more help,” De Blasio said after welcoming the ship.
“And that’s not because any of us likes to have to say that, but because it’s true that the toughest weeks are ahead. We are bracing ourselves for something we’ve never seen before in any of our lives, and the federal government in many ways is the only force that can help us to reach the level of preparation we need to to save every life we can save.”“And that’s not because any of us likes to have to say that, but because it’s true that the toughest weeks are ahead. We are bracing ourselves for something we’ve never seen before in any of our lives, and the federal government in many ways is the only force that can help us to reach the level of preparation we need to to save every life we can save.”
In Central Park’s East Meadow, an unfamiliar cluster of tents cropped up on Sunday as the Mount Sinai health system and a humanitarian aid organization, Samaritan’s Purse, erected a 68-bed field hospital which de Blasio said would be operational by Tuesday. In Central Park’s East Meadow, an unfamiliar cluster of tents cropped up on Sunday as the Mount Sinai health system and a humanitarian aid organization, Samaritan’s Purse, erected a 68-bed field hospital which De Blasio said would be operational by Tuesday.
“This is the kind of thing you will see now as this crisis develops and deepens,” the mayor said.“This is the kind of thing you will see now as this crisis develops and deepens,” the mayor said.
Cuomo has said the state will likely need 140,000 hospital beds to deal with the pandemic, a far cry from the 53,000 beds it supports under normal circumstances. Cuomo has mandated that hospitals increase capacity by 50% and is considering using hotels, college dormitories, nursing homes and other facilities. Cuomo has said the state will probably need 140,000 hospital beds to deal with the pandemic, a far cry from the 53,000 beds it supports under normal circumstances. Cuomo has mandated that hospitals increase capacity by 50% and is considering using hotels, college dormitories, nursing homes and other facilities.
Leaders have also urgently emphasized their need for ventilators, which can make the difference between life and death for some critically ill patients. Trump has continually downplayed their requests.Leaders have also urgently emphasized their need for ventilators, which can make the difference between life and death for some critically ill patients. Trump has continually downplayed their requests.
Cuomo has said that New York will need 30,000 ventilators once the crisis peaks. De Blasio estimates New York City alone will need 15,000 ventilators.Cuomo has said that New York will need 30,000 ventilators once the crisis peaks. De Blasio estimates New York City alone will need 15,000 ventilators.
On Thursday night, Trump commented: “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You go into major hospitals sometimes, and they’ll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden they’re saying, ‘Can we order 30,000 ventilators?’”On Thursday night, Trump commented: “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You go into major hospitals sometimes, and they’ll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden they’re saying, ‘Can we order 30,000 ventilators?’”
New York and Washington have also sparred over federal aid, as the state expects a $10bn-15bn revenue loss because of Covid-19. On Sunday, de Blasio said he had spoken to New York senator Chuck Schumer and treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin about the need for an April stimulus package “to provide real and immediate relief to New York City and New York state”. New York and Washington have also sparred over federal aid, as the state expects a $10bn-15bn revenue loss because of Covid-19. On Sunday, De Blasio said he had spoken to the New York senator Chuck Schumer and the treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, about the need for an April stimulus package “to provide real and immediate relief to New York City and New York state”.
“The Congress, the president have to act to keep New York City and New York state whole,” de Blasio said. “It’s the right thing to do morally. It’s the right thing to do to protect people.” “The Congress, the president have to act to keep New York City and New York state whole,” De Blasio said. “It’s the right thing to do morally. It’s the right thing to do to protect people.”
As New York empties in the face of the virus, 26% of New Yorkers in a Siena College poll released on Monday said someone in their household had been laid off. More than half said they needed the federal payments from last week’s stimulus package to afford their bills right now.As New York empties in the face of the virus, 26% of New Yorkers in a Siena College poll released on Monday said someone in their household had been laid off. More than half said they needed the federal payments from last week’s stimulus package to afford their bills right now.
But despite such dire financial straits, New Yorkers indicated they approved of the state’s Covid-19 response.But despite such dire financial straits, New Yorkers indicated they approved of the state’s Covid-19 response.
Cuomo’s favorability rating increased to 71%, as 87% of residents said they approved of how he has handled the pandemic. Results were far less positive for Trump: 56% of New Yorkers said they disapproved of the job he was doing to address the pandemic. His favorability rating landed at 35%.Cuomo’s favorability rating increased to 71%, as 87% of residents said they approved of how he has handled the pandemic. Results were far less positive for Trump: 56% of New Yorkers said they disapproved of the job he was doing to address the pandemic. His favorability rating landed at 35%.